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These two teams who popularly contested the first World T20 final have had many close finishes in the format, though the head to head results may not reflect that. If they meet again during the competition, it will be a final, one that the sponsors will be secretly praying for. A genuine possibility. The last time these two started their campaigns against each other at the World T20, they did happen to meet in the final, the memorable national holiday in South Africa on a certain Monday afternoon in September. Talking of the inaugural World T20, remarkably that was that only ICC final these two teams have played for the senior Men's side. Never have they met in a World Cup, Champions Trophy or even an Asia Cup final though the last listed is not promoted as an ICC trophy.

At World T20s

Tied in 2007 with India taking the points
India winning the 2007 final
India winning in 2012 super 8 match

At World T20 Warm Ups

India won in 2009
Pakistan won in 2012

In T20 Bilaterals

1-1 in December 2012 series

Overall: India 3 | Pakistan 1 | Tied 1

Pakistan vs India in World Cups

1992 - India won in Australia
1996 - India won in India
1999 - India won in England
2003 - India won in South Africa
2011 - India won in India

Pakistan vs India in World T20s

2007 - India won twice in South Africa
2012 - India won in Sri Lanka

Mother of all clashes, neighbourhood rivalry, biggest limited over international around. We hear it every time. It goes without saying. It's the biggest game of the super 10s. Fittingly, the first game of the main competition, helping set the tone for the following 11 days before the groups conclude on April Fools. Indo-Pak games are bigger than ever in an age of social media. Even bigger now because of the infrequency of the event. They barely play bilaterally and will only meet once or twice a year and that too during global competitions on neutral turf.

This adds to the spectacle. It's one of the highlights of the calendar. They are one offs. They don't happen often, raising the anticipation levels for the better. Summing up, they hardly play, when they do it is in a big ICC or ACC Title Event (in the case of the Asia Cup) and if that couldn't get bigger, on a neutral playing field to even up the contest.

Pakistan have never beaten India in a World Cup. Pakistan have never beaten India in a World T20. India are 5-0 up in World Cups. India are 3-0 up in World T20s. Pakistan haven't beaten India in an ICC event in the last 4 years. They'll want to get over this sooner than later with India penciled to start their defence of their World Cup crown against Pakistan in Adelaide next Valentines weekend, a bigger encounter than this one. India have by far had the better of Pakistan in recent times in tournaments or ICC Events, where it really matters. Below are the defeats, five consecutive tournament defeats in ICC Events:

30th March 2011 – World Cup in India
20th August 2012 – ICC Under 19 World Cup in Australia
30th September – ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka
15 June 2013 – ICC Champions Trophy in England
15th February 2014 – ICC Under 19 World Cup in UAE

It’s becoming an all too familiar sight and a slightly embarrassing state of affairs. They did beat India in a TV warm up match at the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka as a very minor consolation. But when it really matters, they have come unstuck. There have been some extremely one sided games during those with the team failing to turn up in metaphorical terms. Nonetheless, India have been the standout tournament team over the years and therefore these defeats are respectable from this point of view. They have relished the big stage. They were holders of the treble with the World Cup, World Cup U19 and Champions Trophy as well as being one of the past 4 winners of the World T20. In many of the meetings therefore in the above illustrated evidence, India have gone on to win the championship.

Alternatively, Pakistan in ICC men’s tournaments since 2007 WT20 is worth noting. One day cricket was predominantly designed for multinational championships. One day cricket is about building for the major events and doing well at them. Here is Pakistan’s record at ICC events since the inaugural World T20 in South Africa. This is a homeless team, yet a team which finds a way of reaching the business end of international competitions.

4 World T20s, 4 Under-19 World Cups, 2 Champions Trophies, 1 World Cup. 9 of the last 11 ICC events Pakistan have reached the semi-final stage. They can take heart from this. They have reached 4 finals. Taking the above into account; calling Pakistan a "mercurial" side as we often read in previews, particularly in Twenty20 or with reference to global gatherings; is nothing short of a lazy cliche.

Having put the game in deeper context, relating back to the game itself, first thing to consider is India barely play Twenty20 as an international team. They have played just the 1 in the last 14 months. Although they play frequently in the IPL and Champions League with their respective franchises. Whilst winning the first World T20 created an opportunity for the launch of the IPL, since it's introduction they have only won 2 out of 9 super eight games and failed to make the semi finals in 3 successive ICC World Twenty20s. Pakistan meanwhile are the most experienced T20 side and possess the record for highest tally of wins in the format. They have played 12 of the shortest form of the game in the last 14 months in contrast to their rival's solitary game.

India have had a struggling time on the road. Winless tours of South Africa and New Zealand, failure to reach the Asia Cup final and now failure to reach the business end of the World T20, would only add to the woes in completing an abysmal season. Pakistan have been upwardly mobile, unbeaten in their last 5 series across different forms against South Africa and Sri Lanka and making the Asia Cup final. A successful campaign here would complete an impressive season. Contrasting fortunes going into the game and tournament, a tournament both teams take seriously having won the first two editions between them and take much more seriously than teams such as England or Australia given the general popularity for the format in the sub continent.

These two teams met at Dhaka earlier in the month. It was a thrilling tussle as Pakistan just pipped over the line in a do or die Asia Cup match-up. Worth noting the venue is the same, though the word is that the boundaries have been pushed back.

Key Players

Hafeez: Man of the series in a two match contest in this format against them in December 2012. Pakistan's most experienced T20 captain, led in 25 in a row and only defeated in 1/10 T20 series while doing it. Leading run scorer for the team in the 2012 World T20. Pakistan's leading run getter in this format with over 1000 runs. First Pakistan Captain to lead in his second ICC World T20. Received 4 T20 man of match awards since the last World T20. Undoubtedly, the premier all rounder in Pakistan's white ball team since his reintroduction, just take a look at the rankings if in doubt. Having endured a horror run against Steyn, he is now back in the runs in the limited over formats.

Yuvraj: Man of the match in the last T20 game between these two teams. Big match player. Big tournament player. Belligerent ball striker. Considered even as India's best T20 bowler by some not all that long ago with his slow left arm. Impact player, game changer. Talking of ICC Events, Yuvraj is the only player to have featured in tournament wins in all 4 - World Cup, World T20, Champions Trophy and U19. Hero of India's 2007 triumph. Yuvraj is not short of experience, this being his 5th World T20.

Prediction

India start favourites, their psychological dominance over Pakistan will take some getting over, but every day is a new day. Hard to see Pakistan winning it without several twists and turns along the ways, you'd expect the mental barrier to get to them. Though the last 3 World T20 winners haven't won any of their opening matches, so it's not a be all end all scenario for the team which finds itself on the retreating end, they can take hope from this. But in a tough group, points on the board early doors are invaluable in easing the pressure. Both teams will be fully aware of that. Combining the pinnacle of 50 over and 20 over international cricket, will it be 9-0 or 8-1 by Friday evening? Will Pakistan get off the mark and create a first? Will India add to the epic whitewash? Either way, a fascinating statistic.

The chasing side will have the edge. India are formidable chasers and back themselves to get anything. Pakistan need to do what the opposition doesn't want to do, by inserting them in should the captain call correctly and therefore hope to expose India's bowling in the pressure half of the game.

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